Angela Lindvall Talks Eco-Activism, Bali and Her New Jewelry Collaboration

With Earth Day coming up on Friday, the model and green activist chatted with us about her latest collaboration with Guy Bedarida of John Hardy. (Below left, one of the lovely recycled sterling-silver pieces.)

How did the collaboration with Guy Bedarida come about?

Very organically — Guy and I were introduced a few years ago and connected right away. Guy invited me to Bali — where he lives and the John Hardy workshop is located — to meet with him, the local artisans and see the compound. I was so inspired by the island's beauty and the local people that Guy and I began discussing how we could collaborate on a jewelry collection that would represent my visit. Bamboo is a ubiquitous plant in Bali so it was important for us to incorporate it into our designs and we did, you can see the Hijau (meaning "green" in Balinese) collection showcases the look of sliced bamboo. This year we are proud to launch Hijau Dua, our second collaboration.

What were some of the biggest challenges and surprises that came up in the process?

Designing the jewelry was exciting and challenging all at once. One can never know how meticulous the design process is until they witness it firsthand. First comes the sketch, then the mold is created and then the piece is cast; in the case of Hijau Dua in recycled sterling silver or 18K gold. I was so impressed by the attention to detail Guy and his artisans pay to each and every piece of handcrafted jewelry.

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As someone who's previously been on the other side of the coin, what was it like designing pieces as opposed to modeling them?

While I do love my work, I've always felt quite comfortable on the "other side." I feel a great sense of accomplishment when I've worked hard to create something and see it come to life.

What was your favorite aspect of your trip to Bali?

The Balinese people are truly amazing. They have such a commitment to nature and their surroundings. It really blew me away to see how they take such pride in their work and utilizing everything the earth provides.

We know you've been an eco-activist for some time. What do you hope will result from this collaboration, in terms of raising awareness about the environment?

Yes, I have been committed to this for several years now and I think the best thing we can do to create true awareness is to educate. I even started my own foundation, Collage, a non-profit that tackles environmental and social issues through various partnerships and events. My collaboration with John Hardy is meant to inspire people everywhere to see that each and every one of us can make a difference in our own way. For this collection, we are donating a portion of sales to John Hardy's "Wear Bamboo, Plant Bamboo" program, which plants a number of bamboo seedlings for every piece of jewelry sold.

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